Keylor Navas, first!
Undisputed number 1 during his first two seasons in Paris, the Costa Rican goalkeeper saw his horizon darken in the summer of 2021, a few weeks after having extended, with the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Leonardo had indeed not resisted the attraction of such a young, talented goalkeeper at the end of the contract.
If Mauricio Pochettino bet on alternation, Christophe Galtier quickly established a hierarchy.
"
It's easier in terms of management but also for them to know what their position is within the workforce.
“, he justified.
And it was Gigio who inherited bib number 1. The time of this 32nd final of the Coupe de France in Châteauroux (National 1) this Friday (9 p.m.), Navas will find his stripes as a holder.
A piece of blue sky after a break in selection for the World Cup.
Not enough to forget the rest...
Happy in Paris at the base, the 36-year-old Costa Rican porter has long thought of leaving this summer.
We talked about Naples.
It was very hot.
In vain.
“
After a summer of great uncertainty, the day has come to thank the clubs that have shown an interest in me, valuing my work and my career.
It's time to inform you that I will continue to work hard in Paris, without losing faith, helping the team as much as possible, without giving up and, as usual, giving my best every day.
" , he announced to himself.
Everything for Donnarumma
However, this did not deflect Galtier from his trajectory, even if the Parisian coach gave the three-time Champions League winner some hope by saying that "
number 2 can go get
" number 1. "
I don't do not prevent me from thinking about whether Keylor should not, like any number 2, play a few times
, ”he added.
Except that since then, Donnarumma has played everything.
Not a minute for Navas, nothing.
In fact, the Italian European champion, not concerned by the World Cup, is even the only player to have started all 24 matches this season.
Often with good.
Not so good too, even if his predecessor Gianluigi Buffon swears that he "
is progressing very well, with a very good goalkeeping coach who will help him grow.
Being a starter gives you greater strength, not feeling under scrutiny every game.
Even if the one who suffers from it is Keylor, who is also a very great goalkeeper, I am sorry to see him still on the bench , ”he explained to
AFP
in recent months
.
Five months in hell for Navas, who has remained silent but who probably thinks none the less.
“
If he agrees to be number 2, no, and fortunately!
He has such a career that it is very hard for him
, "said Galtier, while the summer transfer window was still open, praising the behavior of"
very great professional and (of) very great competitor
"of the best goalkeeper of the Cup. World Cup 2014. Which Navas had just left Real because Thibaut Courtois had been put in his paws.
Bis repeated.
A curse.
If I don't play, it's not because of a drop in level, but because someone doesn't want me to play.
Keylor Navas, during the World Cup
Because on the meadow, whether in Madrid or Paris, the person concerned has never disappointed, on the contrary.
"
If I don't play in my team, it's not because of a lack of physical condition, a drop in level, it's because someone doesn't want me to play and it's everything
", had squeaked the man with 110 caps with Costa Rica, before a World Cup where he generally shone despite a significant number of goals conceded (11) and an elimination in pool, after a totally crazy match against the Germany (2-4 loss).
“
For me, he is the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1, even if he does not play
“, also noted Pau Lopez before the Classic of the month of October last (1-0).
There was undoubtedly a bit of intox in the remarks of the Marseille porter.
Although, this opinion is not so polemical as that.
We can imagine that the choice is political, the fruit of logic.
Bayern in ambush?
One thing is certain: Donnarumma would probably not be against a departure from Navas this winter.
Like Lopez, released after the signing of Steve Mandanda in Rennes this summer, the Italian giant would undoubtedly be delivered from a weight.
It remains to find a way out for Keylor Navas, under contract until 2024. In recent months, we have therefore talked about Naples, but also West Ham or Olympiakos.
Lately, conflicting information has been circulating about an interest from Bayern Munich, in search of a goalkeeper to compensate for the long absence of Manuel Neuer.
However, it is hard to imagine Paris giving this gift to its next opponent in the Champions League… At least not without a clause for the 8th.
There was talk of a more exotic track, Club America,
In any case, each match brings Navas closer to his last moments in Paris, whether this winter or next summer.
Moreover, Galtier was probably thinking of him when he said this about the winter transfer window: “
A player may not be happy with his playing time, not very happy here, we will discuss the possibilities.
“For the time being, place at La Berrichonne and this cup that Galtier sees as “
an important trophy for the club, the most beautiful of trophies in (his) eyes
”.
Even more beautiful for Navas, who was entitled to ten days of post-World Cup rest and who will start in Indre, for once, while the “MNM” and other executives, like Hakimi, are at rest.